The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-19
ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS
WITH roRcIBLE POWER, IF NEED BE.

WITH FoRCIBLE POWER, II NEED BE.
Every citizen in the State has a valua.
bic and appreciable interest in these spe-
cal donations, as well as in unfolding
the supremacy of the laws, as one of the
essential securities of civilization, and
there should be stringent and resolute
dealing with all those who defy the au-
thorty of the State. If ii be known,
therefore. that there is an extent of power
and influence, as well as flXedness of pur-
pose, on the part of any portion of the
community, representing any special in
EEL :, which demonstrates that the local
in ..icial machinery is inadequate to meet
the emergency, which erected itself into
an open defiance that strikes at the very
life of the State while delraudng the
revenue of these special funds and if the
existing laws do not possess adequate
ne'ventive and
REMEDIAL MEASURES
tc prevent the use or enclosure of these
public lands of any class, for exclusive
occupancy, unless under the rights ac-
guired us n leaseholder or purchaser,
make them stronger and more vigorous
to be promptly executed by Il firm hand,
and if need be, with the forcible inter
position of the whole power of the State
government While the executive should
proceed to the faithful and impartial eXcu-
ton of all the laws of the State, by the
use of all the means placed in his
power and which may be necessary to
that end, there is no real, true safety to
our liberties and institutions but in n
strit adherence to the letter and spirit of
our laws; and there is no danger to our
peace and prosperity that we cannot
easily escape, if we will
CONsCIENTIoUsLY ADHERE
20 them. He should not, therefore, for
the want of proper legislation, be left
with the alternative Of either seeing these
special funds defrauded of their Just rev.
enues. or of becoming the sovereign
Judge of the emergency Y hich would
warrant him in marching an armed force
into any community to stri e down al
civil law There is never, under any cir
cumstanccs, any authority for him 10
break his oath or violate the law, or to
take from the people at his pleasure, that
security of law which is their birthright.
In monarchies an appeal to the sword is
Justly called the last reason of kings.
Such an exgency is sign, not only of
social Generalization, but of bad admin
istratiOn. If the people Of our State can
only be relied upon as obedient citizens
when confronted by the soldier with his
HAND UPON THE SWORD Hit,
we have, indeed, fallen below the level o,
contempt from civilized people. That
no such exigency should arise, If wise
counsels prevail. is apparent TO any one
who is acquainted with the people of
Texas. We claim to be law sliding citi-
Zens. and this claim is borne out by our
whole career as State and republic. and
il NAV be set down as a maxim that IL
serious social disturbances should ever
arise with our people, resulting in def
ance of unlawful authority on the part of
any section or class the prii al cause, IL
properly traced. will lead back to de-
fective or unwise Legislation II in any
portion of the State. our laws relating to
public lands are defcd and SIT at naught,
our trst duty is to re-examine the laws
with the view Of ascertain'ng what de-
fccts, if any, have produce this condi-
ton of society, and. upon iscovery OF
any defect to apply a remtdv. Give the
people Just ami VII lie o laws. and
Iney will not only obeS them, but aid In
their enforcement and execution.